Department for Transport

Large Goods Vehicles: Channel Crossing

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ease of HGV vehicle movements across the English Channel.

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ease of HGV vehicle movements across the Irish Sea.

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ease of HGV vehicle movements from UK ports to northern Spain.

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ease of HGV vehicle movements from UK ports to Norway.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) ensures that the vast majority of journeys will continue as they did before the end of the transition period. EU and UK hauliers are able to operate to, from and through each other’s territories with no restriction, and undertake up to two additional movements within each other’s territories.With regards to border flow and COVID-19 testing requirements, haulier testing for drivers operating in the EU is now available at 34 Information and Advice Sites across the country which are strategically located, aligned to strategic routes to ports and typical haulier footfall. The Department has tested over 700,000 hauliers for COVID-19 since December 2020 with a positivity rate of 0.1%. The high compliance demonstrates the effectiveness of the COVID testing at Information and Advice Sites as it enables goods to flow freely across borders and delivers robust public health mitigations to manage the risk of infection in England. As of 19th August, only Germany have any testing requirements for hauliers entering from the UK.The Department will continue to monitor the changing situation and rapidly engage with hauliers if there are any further changes to haulier testing.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number of fully qualified HGV Class 1 and 2 drivers in the UK, and (2) any additional number needed to meet current and future demand.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: As of May 2021 Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency data indicated there were about 622,000 full HGV licence holders with active professional competence (a valid driver certificate of professional competence, Driver CPC). The pool of people holding HGV licences is wider still (a further 370,000 as of May 2021) including for example transport managers and drivers not requiring DCPC such as fire service drivers.Current trade association estimates of the driver shortage range from 60,000 to 100,000, with a central estimate of around 76,000. The current shortage includes both a chronic, long-term, component and an acute element.

Department of Health and Social Care

Viral Diseases: Protective Clothing

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofany evidencewhich suggeststhat wearing a face covering reduces the spread ofviruses other than COVID-19.

Lord Bethell: The Government has not looked at the effectiveness of face coverings for reducing the spread of viruses other than COVID-19.

Lung Diseases: Health Services

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what early intervention measures and improvements to 'continuity of care' for patients with chronic respiratory conditions were adopted between 2010 and 2019 in England.

Lord Bethell: A series of early intervention measures and improvements to continuity of care were adopted between 2010 and 2019.In 2011, the Department’s outcomes strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma set out an objective to reduce the number of people with COPD who die prematurely. This was through a proactive approach to early identification, diagnosis and intervention, and proactive care and management at all stages of the disease. The outcomes strategy for COPD and asthma is attached.In 2013, a guide to performing quality assured diagnostic spirometry was produced. The foreword of the guide says that around a quarter of people on general practice COPD registers did not meet the diagnostic criteria for COPD, and it could be that misdiagnosis occurred because much of the diagnostic spirometry performed failed to meet the essential quality standards. The guide was published to support accurate diagnosis of respiratory conditions. This guide is attached.Developed in 2017, the NHS RightCare COPD pathway defines the core components of an optimal service for people with COPD. This includes timely access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation as part of the optimal treatment pathway and timely diagnosis as part of the pathway which help with early intervention measures.The final measure adopted in this period was The National Asthma and COPD Audit Programme which was launched in March 2018 and is led by the Royal College of Physicians. The aims of this programme are to improve quality of care, services, and clinical outcomes for patients with asthma and COPD by collecting and providing data on a range of quality improvement indicators.The Outcomes Strategy for COPD and Asthma (pdf, 533.6KB)Guide to Diagnostic Spirometry (pdf, 930.4KB)

Intensive Care

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to ring fence funding, and (2) to prioritise rehabilitation, for hospital patients who are recovering critical illnesses.

Lord Bethell: The Government has provided a dedicated national discharge fund, managed by the National Health Service, for the first half of 2021/2022 financial year. In tandem with the existing services commissioned by local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, this discharge fund pays for the cost of post-discharge recovery and support services. This includes bed based and home-based rehabilitation and re-ablement care following discharge from hospital and is funded for up to four weeks.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been reclaimedfrom suppliers of COVID-19 pandemic-related personal protective equipment which was judged not fit for purpose; and what plans they have to pursue further claims.

Lord Bethell: The Department is working through all its personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts to identify instances where products have not been delivered or failed quality tests and will seek to recover the costs for undelivered or substandard PPE.As of 27 July 2021, the Department was engaged in commercial discussions (potentially leading to litigation) in respect to 40 PPE contracts with a combined value of £1.2 billion covering 1.7 billion items of PPE.

Civil Servants: Coronavirus

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government which civil servants are exempt from COVID-19 rules related to (1) travelling, and (2) mixing with groups of other people; and for what reasons they are exempt.

Lord Bethell: Crown servants and Government contractors, which includes civil servants must quarantine in a managed facility or in their own accommodation, depending on the ‘traffic light’ allocation of the country they departed from or transited through in the 10 days before arrival in the United Kingdom. This applies unless a relevant Government department has certified that they are not required to do so and the traveller is:- a Crown servant or Government contractor travelling to the UK for essential Government work or returning from such work outside the UK; or- returning from conducting essential state business outside of the UK; or- returning to the UK where this is necessary to facilitate the functioning of a diplomatic mission or consular post of Her Majesty or of a military/other official posting on behalf of Her Majesty.Civil servants meeting the first two of these eligibility criteria may also be exempt from the mandatory post-arrival testing requirements. Some civil servants who are conducting essential border work or essential defence activities are also exempt from the requirement to complete a Passenger Locator Form, as well as quarantine and travel testing requirements. While all social distancing restrictions are no longer mandated, the legal duty to self-isolate when notified by NHS Test and Trace remains in place applies to civil servants as to the wider public.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the operation of theNHS COVID-19 app.

Lord Bethell: The NHS COVID-19 app is kept under close review and is continually being refined and enhanced to ensure it can continue to break chains of transmission. Research from academics and bodies such as The Alan Turing Institute and The University of Oxford have shown that the app continues to work effectively, and user research and feedback are continually considered and incorporated into app releases. Constant evaluation is conducted to ensure the app can continue to support present and future requirements.

Department for Education

Post-18 Education and Funding Review

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they willpublishtheir final response to recommendations made in the Report of the Independent Panel led by Dr Philip Augar.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The government is carefully considering its response to the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding, to which the independent panel reported. We remain committed to introducing further reforms which will ensure a sustainable student finance system, drive up the quality of higher education provision, and promote genuine social mobility. We plan to consult on further reforms to the higher education system before setting out a full conclusion to the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Afghanistan: Immigration

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to implement the recommendation of the International Relations and Defence Select Committee in its report The UK and Afghanistan, published on 13 January (HL Paper 208), that the "UK Government should ensure that all Afghan interpreters who worked for the UK military, including those now resident in third countries, are aware of, and able to access the provisions of, the ex-gratia scheme".

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to help Afghan staff who have assisted us and we are working to get them and their families out as fast as we can. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which came into effect in April 2021, offers relocation or other assistance to current and former locally employed Afghan staff. This scheme is in addition to the existing Ex Gratia Scheme (EGS) which will remain open until November 2022. After November 2022, eligible Afghan staff will still be able to relocate via ARAP. Prior to the current evacuation the UK assisted over 1,900 to leave Afghanistan between April and August under the ARAP scheme. Through the current Operation PITTING evacuation, as of 31 August we have evacuated more than 16,000 people from Kabul. This includes Afghan interpreters, staff and their families who served alongside our brave military and are eligible under the ARAP programme. Our officials are working as quickly as possible to bring more people to safety in the United Kingdom, via third countries.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timescale for the repatriation of Afghan refugees who have supported the British mission in Afghanistan; and how they intend to achieve that repatriation, particularly for refugees located outside Kabul.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Our absolute priority has been to evacuate as many people as possible. However the terror attack outside the Kabul airport tragically demonstrates the complex and vulnerable situation that impacted operations on the ground. We will continue to do all we can to support British Nationals and those Afghans who have supported us, and to put pressure on the Taliban to allow safe passage. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme remains open to anyone who is eligible, and we will work with international partners on establishing potential routes for those eligible for ARAP to get to the UK.

Home Office

Firearms: Licensing

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban shotgun licences for those living in urban areas.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: While the UK has some of the toughest firearms legislations in the world the Government has no plans to ban shotguns in rural or urban areas.Following the tragic shootings in Plymouth on 12 August, the Home Secretary has, as a matter of urgency, written asking all police forces in England, Wales and Scotland to review their current firearms licensing processes set against the current Home Office guidance and legislation. This review will help to reassure people that all necessary checks have been made to keep them safe. In particular, all forces are asked to carry out a full review of all certificates that have been seized, refused, revoked or surrendered in the past twelve months, and subsequently approved by the police.

Firearms

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the legislation on firearms.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: This country has some of the toughest firearms controls in the world and our firearms law is kept under constant review to safeguard against abuse by criminals and to preserve public safety.We will not hesitate to act whenever the need arises. The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 introduced bans on the civilian possession of certain rapid-firing rifles and devices known as ‘bump stocks’. And the Home Office is bringing forward new statutory guidance to improve how people applying for a firearms licence are assessed in future. The new guidance draws on previous lessons learned and will ensure better consistency and improved standards across police firearms licensing departments.Following the tragic shootings in Plymouth on 12 August, the Home Secretary has, as a matter of urgency, written asking all police forces in England, Wales and Scotland to review their current firearms licensing processes set against the current Home Office guidance and legislation. This review will help to reassure people that all necessary checks have been made to keep them safe. In particular, all forces are asked to carry out a full review of all certificates that have been seized, refused, revoked or surrendered in the past twelve months, and subsequently approved by the police.

Hikvision

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in response to the correspondence between theBiometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner andHikvision on 16 July and 20 August, regarding the use of that company's technology in Uyghur internment camps in China; and whether they intend to follow the decision of the government of the United States of America in banning Hikvision.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: I will be meeting with the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner to discuss the issues raised in the correspondence with Hikvision.The UK is committed to promoting the ethical development and deployment of technology in the UK and overseas. We are aware of a number of Chinese technology companies linked to violations taking place in Xinjiang, and are monitoring the situation closely.On 12 January, the Foreign Secretary announced a series of measures to help ensure UK businesses and the public sector are not complicit in human rights violations or abuses in Xinjiang. These measures, which are being implemented by the UK Government, include a review of export controls; the introduction of financial penalties under the Modern Slavery Act; increasing support for UK government bodies to exclude suppliers complicit in violations or abuses; and strengthening the Overseas Business Risk guidance to highlight that businesses engaged in the fields of surveillance, biometrics, or tracking technology are at heightened risk of complicity in human rights violations in Xinjiang.The UK Government has also published guidance to help cutting-edge UK firms negotiate the ethical, legal and commercial questions they may encounter when working with Chinese businesses, supporting safe and appropriate UK-China collaboration in digital and tech. The guidance provides firms with clear, up-to-date information and specialist support which reflect the UK's values and take account of national security concerns.

Treasury

Public Sector Debt

Lord Eatwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportions of UK national debt were owned by (1) UK households, (2) the Bank of England, (3) overseas purchasers, (4) banks and financial houses, and (5) insurance and pension funds, in (a) 2017, (b) 2018, (c) 2019, (d) 2020, and (e) 2021.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Most of the Government’s debt is in the form of publicly traded bonds (‘gilts’). The data most recently published on the website of the Debt Management Office (DMO) covering the distribution of gilt holdings are set out in the table below:  UK householdsThe Bank of EnglandOverseas holdingsBanks and other financial institutionsInsurance and pension fundsEnd-20170.2%24.4%27.9%16.0%31.2%End-20180.2%23.8%28.3%15.8%31.5%End-20190.2%23.4%30.1%13.3%32.8%End-20200.2%31.6%28.2%12.0%27.9%Q1 20210.2%32.5%27.6%11.1%28.4%

Public Sector Debt

Lord Eatwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average duration of UK national debt in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, (4) 2020, and (5) 2021.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Most of the Government’s debt is in the form of publicly traded bonds (‘gilts’). The average maturity of the stock of total gilts was 15.8 years at both end-December 2017 and end-December 2018, 15.9 years at end-December 2019, and 15.3 years at end-December 2020. By end-July 2021, the average maturity of the stock of total gilts had fallen to 15.2 years.

Broadcasting Programmes: Television

Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will meet (1) representatives of the majortelevision channels, (2) the Financial Conduct Authority, and (3) Ofcom, to encourage the development of programmes that promote investment in shares of companies quoted in the UK.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government is fully supportive of initiatives to improve financial education. While the Government regularly meets with the Financial Conduct Authority, Ofcom and representatives of major television channels, it is right that programming and editorial decisions are made independent of Government.